Danger in the Extreme by Franklin W. Dixon

high up are they?”
    â€œA hundred and fifty feet, easy,” Frank said.
    A Max Games security guard held a megaphone to his lips. “Don’t jump!” he said. “Step back from the railing before someone gets hurt!”
    â€œStay clear!” Sammy Fear yelled, his voicesounding tinny and small from so high up. “I’m going to jump and no one can stop me!”
    Frank watched as Fred Vale and a cameraman muscled their way through the crowd to get a better view.
    Rick Salazar tossed something into the air. The crowd reacted, then calmed down as everyone realized that it was a rope.
    â€œAre they going to climb down?” Jamal asked.
    Before anyone answered, Salazar hooked on to the rope and rappelled down the outside wall of the stadium like an Airborne Ranger dropping from a helicopter.
    He hit the ground and stepped back a few steps from the wall. “Come on down!” he shouted to Fear and Mollica.
    Without hooking on to the rope, they launched themselves into space.

7 The Imposter
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    People in the crowd screamed.
    Frank didn’t want to look, but he couldn’t pull his eyes away. As Fear and Mollica jumped, he saw each of them throw something clear.
    They plummeted in the classic skydiving position—arms out, legs spread-eagled.
    Frank squinted against the glare of the sun. The objects they’d thrown trailed above them as they fell, then popped open.
    â€œBASE-jumping chutes!” Frank shouted. He watched the canopies open completely. Fear and Mollica were using the compact, quick-opening chutes that enthusiasts used when they jumped from stationary objects like buildings and bridges.
    Neal’s jaw dropped open as Fear and Mollica once again drifted safely down over the crowd.
    People in the crowd followed them as if mesmerized. When the two jumpers landed at the far end of the parking lot, they were quickly overwhelmed by fans and security guards.
    â€œWow! That was totally amazing,” Neal said. He pushed his way through the crowd, obviously determined to talk to Sammy Fear.
    Joe watched as Agent DuBelle grabbed Neal’s arm and asked him to stop.
    Then, from out of nowhere, Agent Ardis stepped in and cleared a path for the president’s son. “Let him have some fun,” Ardis said.
    Frank, sensing his opportunity, dropped back and headed for the stadium wall. He found the rope hanging where Salazar had rappelled down.
    He couldn’t see anything wrong with it. The rope looked similar to the one at the ice wall, but there was no way to be sure.
    â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢
    Joe and Jamal followed Neal and the Secret Service agents through the crowd. By the time they got to Fear and Mollica, Fred Vale was already there. Security guys were holding fans back, while Vale interviewed Fear on camera.
    Looking over, the promoter spotted Neal. He smiled broadly into the camera. “Look,” he said, “it’s the most famous participant in the Max Games. Come over here, Neal.”
    Vale pulled Neal over next to Fear and Mollica.“What’d you think of that stunt?”
    Fear and Neal exchanged high fives. “That was wild!” Neal shouted. “How’d it feel, man?”
    â€œTrippy, man,” Fear said. “All these faces were looking up at us all worried. What a total hoot!”
    Vale shoved the microphone at Mollica. She blushed. “I guess it was fun,” she said, hesitating. “I was pretty nervous.”
    Vale lost interest in her and went back to Neal and Fear, who were now acting like best friends.
    Fear put an arm around Neal’s shoulder. Escorted by Max Games security and Secret Service agents, they made their way through the crowd to the athletes’ lounge under the stadium. Frank joined them there.
    Once the security guards had cleared out, Fear turned to Agent DuBelle.
    â€œNeal asked me if I’d hang with him at his snowboard competition this afternoon,” he said.